Teachers’ Union Activist Masoud Farhikhteh Sentenced to Imprisonment by Court of Appeal

HRANA – Branch 12 of the Alborz Province Court of Appeal has reduced the prison sentence of teachers’ union activist Masoud Farhikhteh to four years, one month, and 17 days, down from the six years previously handed down by the trial court.

According to the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, the appellate court sentenced Farhikhteh to three years, six months, and one day in prison for “assembly and collusion to commit crimes against internal security,” and seven months and 16 days for “propaganda against the regime.”

Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, only the most severe sentence — three years, six months, and one day — will be enforceable.

Farhikhteh was originally sentenced in January 2025 by Branch 2 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court, following a trial held in July 2024.

In a separate case, the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court sentenced him in April 2024 to three months in prison for “propaganda against the regime,” later converting the sentence to an eight-million-toman fine. He was acquitted of this charge in August 2024 by the Kurdistan Province Court of Appeal.

A board member of the Islamshahr Teachers’ Union, Farhikhteh was arrested by security forces at his home in Karaj on May 1, 2023, and transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison. He was released on bail in June of that year.

Ramin Gorgani Arrested in Kamyaran by Security Forces

HRANA– On Sunday, August 10, 2025, Ramin Gorgani, a resident of Kamyaran County, was arrested by security forces in this county and transferred to one of The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facilities in Sanandaj. During a search of his home, agents confiscated several of his personal belongings.

According to Kurdpa, an informed source reported that Mr. Gorgani’s arrest was carried out by security forces without the presentation of a judicial warrant, in one of the streets of Kamyaran. Following his arrest, he was transferred to one of The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facilities in Sanandaj.

Additionally, after detaining him, agents went to his home, searched the premises, and seized some of his personal possessions.

As of the time of writing, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for his arrest or the charges against him.

Ramin Gorgani has previously been arrested due to his activities.

Yazdan Khazaei, Brother of Slain Protester, Arrested in Shahriar

HRANA News Agency – Today, Saturday, August 9, Yazdan Khazaei, the brother of Erfan Khazaei, one of the victims of the 2022 nationwide protests, was arrested and taken to an undisclosed location after appearing at the Revolutionary Court of Shahriar County.

So far, no information has been obtained regarding his place of detention or the charges against him.

Yazdan Khazaei has previously faced security-related harassment, including summons and interrogations.

In July this year, Ehsan Khazaei and Neda Kargar, Yazdan Khazaei’s brother and sister-in-law, were also arrested in Kangavar and released some time later on bail.

It is worth noting that Erfan Khazaei, 30, a resident of Kangavar in Kermanshah Province, was killed by gunfire on September 21, 2022, during the nationwide protests in Shahriar.

Fatemeh Ziaei Arrested in Tehran by Ministry of Intelligence

HRANA News Agency – On Thursday, August 7, Fatemeh (Hourieh) Ziaei Azad was arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in Tehran and taken to an undisclosed location.

A source close to her family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Ms. Ziaei was arrested last night at her home in Tehran by Ministry of Intelligence agents and transferred to an undisclosed location.”

As of now, no information is available regarding her place of detention, the reasons for her arrest, or the charges against her.

Fatemeh (Hourieh) Ziaei Azad, approximately 66 years old, resides in Tehran. She has previously been sentenced and served time in prison.

Masoud Bakhtiari Arrested in Arak

HRANA – Masoud Bakhtiari, a resident of Arak, was arrested by the Cyber Police (FATA) in the city and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, citing the Free Union of Iranian Workers, Mr. Bakhtiari—who was active in labor-related issues—was arrested in recent days by FATA officers without a judicial warrant. Following his arrest, he was transferred to an unknown location.

The reason for his arrest was reportedly the publication of posts criticizing the Friday Prayer Imam and local authorities in Arak, as well as raising labor issues and workers’ demands in a Telegram channel.

The report does not mention further details, including the exact time of arrest.

As of the time of this report, no information has been obtained about Mr. Bakhtiari’s whereabouts or the charges against him.

In 2024, a total of 2,783 Iranian citizens were arrested by security and judicial authorities due to their beliefs, opinions, or political and civil activities. Over the past decade, the number of such arrests has exceeded 56,000. The highest number of arrests occurred in 2022, during the nationwide protests, when HRANA documented 23,977 detentions.

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Yousef Kari and Touhid Amir Amini Sentenced to Imprisonment and Fines

HRANA – Azerbaijani-Turk activist Yousef Kari has been sentenced by Branch 104 of Ardabil Criminal Court to pay fines, some of which are in lieu of imprisonment and flogging. Another defendant in the case, Touhid Amir Amini, was sentenced to a prison term and a monetary fine.

The verdict, issued on Sunday, August 3, 2025, finds Kari guilty of “disturbing public order and peace” and sentences him to a 30 million toman fine in lieu of imprisonment and a 12 million toman fine in lieu of flogging. He was also fined an additional 20.2 million tomans for “disobeying officers.”

Touhid Amir Amini was tried in absentia and convicted of “spreading falsehoods with the intent to disturb public opinion.” He received a sentence of three months and one day in prison, along with a 30 million toman fine.

Amir Amini was arrested in late June 2025 and transferred to Ardabil Prison. He was released on bail on June 28.

In May 2025, Kari was arrested during public celebrations following a football club’s championship victory. He was released the following day from the Public Security and Intelligence Police detention facility in Ardabil.

The indictment against both activists was issued in March 2025 by Branch 10 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Ardabil.

Kari and Amir Amini have both previously faced judicial harassment, including arrests and imprisonment, in connection with their activism.

Amir Nasr Azadani Transferred from Dastgerd Prison to Hospital

HRANA– Amir Nasr Azadani, former professional football player and political prisoner held in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, has been transferred to a hospital.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Nasr Azadani was moved from Dastgerd Prison to a hospital in Isfahan, as reported by a social media page attributed to him quoting one of his cellmates.

No further details have been released regarding the timing of the transfer or his current health condition.

Amir Nasr Azadani, formerly a player for Tractor and Sepahan football clubs, is one of the defendants in the so-called “House of Isfahan” case. Following judicial proceedings, he was ultimately sentenced by the Supreme Court in February 2024 to 16 years in prison.

Andimeshk Resident Ruhollah Korki Arrested by Security Forces

HRANA – On Tuesday, August 5, 2025, Ruhollah Korki, a resident of Andimeshk, was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

A source close to the family confirmed the arrest, telling HRANA: “Mr. Korki was detained by plainclothes agents while walking with his young daughter on a street in Andimeshk. His daughter returned home in tears. The arresting agents were reportedly affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).”

It remains unclear whether Korki is being held in Andimeshk or has been transferred to Ahvaz. While the family was informed that the arresting forces had come from Ahvaz, some evidence suggests he may still be held locally.

As of the time of this report, the reasons for Korki’s arrest and any charges brought against him have not been disclosed.

Ruhollah Korki is the brother of Amin Korki, who was arrested during the nationwide protests of December 2017. Amin Korki died under suspicious circumstances in April 2018 following a second arrest.

Death Sentence for Babak Shahbazi Upheld by Supreme Court

HRANA – The Supreme Court of Iran has upheld the death sentence of Babak Shahbazi, a political prisoner currently held in Tehran’s Greater Prison. Shahbazi was previously arrested on charges of espionage and sentenced to death.

According to HRANA, citing BBC Persian, Shahbazi was accused of spying for Israel. The Supreme Court has now confirmed the verdict. Authorities have issued an order for his transfer to Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

BBC Persian, quoting informed sources, reports that Shahbazi denied all charges throughout the judicial process. One of the accusations reportedly used to support the espionage charge was that he had sent a message to the President of Ukraine.

Shahbazi was arrested in January 2024 and initially detained in Evin Prison. He was later transferred to Tehran’s Greater Prison along with other political prisoners after an Israeli airstrike targeted Evin.

Journalist Meysam Rashidi Arrested in Ardabil

HRANA – Meysam Rashidi, a journalist based in Ardabil, was arrested by local police following a complaint from the city’s mayor and the issuance of a temporary detention order.

According to HRANA, the arrest was carried out after Rashidi published critical content on social media about the municipality’s performance, prompting the mayor to file a legal complaint. The charges against him and his current place of detention remain unknown.

Earlier this year in March, Rashidi was reportedly assaulted by Ardabil municipality’s security personnel after he criticized the poor condition of the city’s municipal football team—an allegation the mayor later denied.

Rashidi has previously collaborated with the news outlet Qaartaal.

Arbitrary arrests, transferring detainees to undisclosed locations, and leaving families in the dark about the fate of their loved ones are routine practices of the Iranian regime’s security agencies, such as the Ministry of Intelligence and the IRGC Intelligence Unit. This pattern of behavior stands in clear violation of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, known as the Nelson Mandela Rules